Draft Watcher SMYTHE's 2024 Draft Thread

[Smythe]

No Isaac Kako?

#44, I would like to see better ball use and decision making

 

[eth-dog]

#44, I would like to see better ball use and decision making

I don't mind if he slips outside 40!

 

[blueiris]

Our season looks over we’re likely a top 5 pick we’re likely going to trade that pick for father/Son Academy players most likely trade options are Fremantle or Suns

 

[GoTigers2015]

Welcome back Smythe, always look forward to reading your thread.

Do you have any tiers yet for this year's draft?

 

[Smythe]

Welcome back Smythe, always look forward to reading your thread.

Do you have any tiers yet for this year's draft?

Cheers. I do have some tiers but have not posted yet and may not till after the champs. We could get around 70 drafted this year I feel.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Who are the best small forwards in the draft?
Any one worthy of a 1st rounder?

 

[_RT_]

Who are the best small forwards in the draft?
Any one worthy of a 1st rounder?

Liam Baker

 

[go_the_dockers]

Liam Baker

I said small forwards, not small utilities.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Who are the best small forwards in the draft?
Any one worthy of a 1st rounder?

Dockers have Delean already.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Dockers have Delean already.

Even if he makes it, we need 1 more.

At best, he is a 50/50 to make it. He is very raw.

Ideal draft for me is 1 small forward, 1 half forward (at AFL level could spend 70% of their time in the forward line, 30% in the midfield), 1 goal kicking mid with speed.

 

[Futbolista]

Who are the best small forwards in the draft?
Any one worthy of a 1st rounder?

I'm not sure if these WA guys are first rounders or not. Probably not.

But Malakai Champion (S) is WA's best small forward hope this year.

It's also worth keeping a close eye on Robert Warrell (P), Lukas Jakovich (PT) and Anthony Hansen (SD).

A PSA/Scotch College/Subiaco lad named Toby Jones could be a surpise bolter late in the season.

 

[Smythe]

Who are the best small forwards in the draft?
Any one worthy of a 1st rounder?

lots of small fwds, and small fwd/mids, but so far when it comes to first round worthy, i would say currently only joe berry, taj hotton, leo lombard (GC)

 

[M Malice]

lots of small fwds, and small fwd/mids, but so far when it comes to first round worthy, i would say currently only joe berry, taj hotton, leo lombard (GC)

The Lions are lacking speed through the midfield and with Charlie Cameron aging in the small forward category as well.

We have Levi Ashcroft coming in early but are there any speedy mids/small fwds (prioritising mids) that could be available late 1st round-2nd round that would fit the bill?

I'm thinking pass on Sam Marshall as too similar to mids we already have and go for speed, I'm assuming if said speedy player goes late 1st-2nd round they would at least have handy skills and footy nous.

 

[blueiris]

The Lions are lacking speed through the midfield and with Charlie Cameron aging in the small forward category as well.

We have Levi Ashcroft coming in early but are there any speedy mids/small fwds (prioritising mids) that could be available late 1st round-2nd round that would fit the bill?

I'm thinking pass on Sam Marshall as too similar to mids we already have and go for speed, I'm assuming if said speedy player goes late 1st-2nd round they would at least have handy skills and footy nous.

If both Clug and Berry leave who are these midfielders we have? Marshall is a massive need

 

[M Malice]

If both Clug and Berry leave who are these midfielders we have? Marshall is a massive need

I'd have it 99% certain McCluggage & Berry both stay.

What about the way Sam Marshall plays makes him a significant difference to what we already have?

FWIW I think we match the Marshall bid, I posted a discussion point about the need for speed in our midfield on the Lions board and thought I would ask Smythe what was out there among this years potential draftees.

 

[briztoon]

I'd have it 99% certain McCluggage & Berry both stay.

What about the way Sam Marshall plays makes him a significant difference to what we already have?

FWIW I think we match the Marshall bid, I posted a discussion point about the need for speed in our midfield on the Lions board and thought I would ask Smythe what was out there among this years potential draftees.

We don’t currently have a second round pick. After matching the Ashcroft bid, our next pick will be a third round pick at best, more likely a fourth round pick.

Even if we have to go in to deficit on next year’s draft picks, we most likely drafting academy kids this year (and probably next year as well).

 

[THE_GUN]

We don’t currently have a second round pick. After matching the Ashcroft bid, our next pick will be a third round pick at best, more likely a fourth round pick.

Even if we have to go in to deficit on next year’s draft picks, we most likely drafting academy kids this year (and probably next year as well).

How many Academy kids will Lions take this year and likely range
Ashcroft is clearly top 3

 

[briztoon]

How many Academy kids will Lions take this year and likely range
Ashcroft is clearly top 3

Outside of Ashcroft and Marshall, I’d say the other academy boys haven’t played up to expectations so far.

How many, no idea. Range is dependent on where other clubs bid on them.

We’ll have a better idea after the Championships.

 

[Mister_Football]

EARLY TOP 40 RANKINGS

1. JOSH SMILLIE
2. LEVI ASHCROFT
3. SID DRAPER
4. CHRISTIAN MORAES
5. FINN O'SULLIVAN
6. JAGGA SMITH
7. BEN CAMPOREALE
8. JOE BERRY
9. LUKE TRAINOR
10. LEO LOMBARD
11. TAJ HOTTON
12. TYLER WELSH
13. JACK WHITLOCK
14. TOBIE TRAVAGLIA
15. TOM GROSS
16. HARRY O'FARRELL
17. LUCAS CAMPOREALE
18. HARVEY LANGFORD
19. NOAH MRAZ
20. NATH SULZBERGER
21. SAM MARSHALL
22. JOSH MURPHY
23. MURPHY REID
24. ZACH JOHNSON
25. JONTY FAULL
26. BO ALLAN
27. JOBE SHANAHAN
28. XAVIER LINDSEY
29. SAM CUMMING
30. LACHIE JAQUES
31. COOPER HYNES (DS)
32. JESS DATTOLI
33. HARRY CHARLESON
34. THOMAS SIMS
35. LUCAS MCINERNEY
36. PHEONIX HARGRAVE
37. JAYDEN NGUYEN
38. XAVIER IVISIC
39. KAYLE GERRYN
40. LUKE URQUHART

I'd love to know your reasoining behind having four ahead of O'Sullivan, and at least 40 ahead of Sam Lalor?

 

[Smythe]

I'd love to know your reasoining behind having four ahead of O'Sullivan, and at least 40 ahead of Sam Lalor?

Well, that is an easy explanation for both questions.

Sam, to be honest i accidentally left out of my first rankings. But don't worry he will be there in the next update, he was supposed to be in at 17, and to be honest i dont know why nobody else asked the question earlier, i didnt bother changing it because my next updated ranking are due next week. There were actually 3 in total that i left out by accident.

When it comes to the very top end and we are talking about the top 5 here, i ranked them on production this year and unfortunately Finn has been injured, and although Sid has also been injured, i do actually rate what Sid had done previously (last 2 years) to what finn had done higher.

Once the championships are done and dusted that is when the rankings/big boards of most draft watchers/experts are really honed down almost to the point of finalization and its where the mock drafts start.

 

[Mister_Football]

Well, that is an easy explanation for both questions.

Sam, to be honest i accidentally left out of my first rankings. But don't worry he will be there in the next update, he was supposed to be in at 17, and to be honest i dont know why nobody else asked the question earlier, i didnt bother changing it because my next updated ranking are due next week.

When it comes to the very top end and we are talking about the top 5 here, i ranked them on production this year and unfortunately Finn has been injured, and although Sid has also been injured, i do actually rate what Sid had done previously (last 2 years) to what finn had done higher.

Once the championships are done and dusted that is when the rankings/big boards of most draft watchers/experts are really honed down almost to the point of finalization and its where the mock drafts start.

So you are ranking them as under-18 players not prospective AFL players?

 

[Smythe]

Outside of Ashcroft and Marshall, I’d say the other academy boys haven’t played up to expectations so far.

How many, no idea. Range is dependent on where other clubs bid on them.

We’ll have a better idea after the Championships.

THE_GUN i agree here with briztoon, Ashcroft and possibly Marshall late, who knows if they rookie Gillett or McFadyen but i dont see those guys (at this stage) going in the ND

 

[Smythe]

So you are ranking them as under-18 players not prospective AFL players?

No, not necessarily.
With the ones who haven't played this year, I rank on what I have seen prior and how I see them going forward.
Now that the Aus v Lions and Aus v Dogs games are completed, we get to see more how they translate their traits and game style against bigger bodies and if they can enhance their games when going back and playing the Champs series against their own age again to separate from the rest. Once that is done that is where the rankings really start to take shape and mock drafts come into play. So at the start of the year, most are ranked (by me) on how they are rated against each other at that age and as the year goes forward (after the games against bigger bodies and the champs) my big board looks at how i see them in the future at the higher level. I have always done it that way.

 

[Mister_Football]

No, not necessarily.
With the ones who haven't played this year, I rank on what I have seen prior and how I see them going forward.
Now that the Aus v Lions and Aus v Dogs games are completed, we get to see more how they translate their traits and game style against bigger bodies and if they can enhance their games when going back and playing the Champs series against their own age again to separate from the rest. Once that is done that is where the rankings really start to take shape and mock drafts come into play. So at the start of the year, most are ranked (by me) on how they are rated against each other at that age and as the year goes forward (after the games against bigger bodies and the champs) my big board looks at how i see them in the future at the higher level. I have always done it that way.

Okay, I'm just trying to get an idea of what the rankings mean. Do they mean that at this point you think Smillie, Ashcroft, Draper and Moraes will be better AFL players than O'Sullivan? Or do you think they are better players right now?

 

[Mister_Football]

By the way, not having a crack at you. It's a question for all draft watchers/experts. On what do you base your rankings: how good they are now or how good you project them to be?